May 4 was McHappy Day at McDonalds in Fernie and Cranbrook. The restaurants were raising money for the Ronald McDonald House BC (RMHBC) located in Vancouver. The cost of the new BC House was almost $27 million. It was designed to make the house feel like a home.
This new house is the second largest in Canada and the fifth largest in the world. It is able to host larger families in an effort to keep the entire family together in their time of need.
Dean Juneau and his son Jonah have made use of the Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver and both were at McDonalds during the fundraiser.
“The Ronald McDonald House is not only a place to lay your head but also a place to lay your heart,” said Dean Juneau. “The Vancouver Ronald McDonald House is unique, it’s a brand new facility and the nice thing is it is right beside the hospital. It is literally on the property of the hospital and so when you come out of their doors you can walk right into your appointment, you don’t have to take a cab or have all the stress of being late. It is really phenomenal.”
The new Vancouver House opened in July 2014 and provides 2,500 families with a place to stay each year.
The funds raised at the Fernie location totaled $2,425.